Last Saturday, Tony was running along the beach on a sunny morning. The sun was shining and a few people were walking near the water. While Tony was listening to music, he saw his friend Pete. Pete was standing by some rocks and was looking at the sea. Tony stopped and asked what was wrong.

Pete said he saw a small boat. The boat was moving slowly, but nobody was driving it. While they were watching, a bag fell into the water. Tony ran to the shore and he picked up the bag when it came back with the waves. Inside, he found a phone and a wallet.

Past Continuous vs Past Simple (Story grammar)

Tense	Form	Use	Signal words	Example (your sentence)
Past Continuous	was/were + verb-ing	A longer action in the past (background). Something was in progress.	while, when	I was sleeping siesta…
Past Simple	verb (past) / did + base (negative/question)	A finished action in the past. Often a short action that interrupts.	when, suddenly	…when the phone company rang!

How they combine (most common pattern):
✅ Past Continuous (long action) + when + Past Simple (short interrupting action)
I was sleeping siesta when the phone company rang!

Other common pattern:
✅ Past Simple + while + Past Continuous
The phone company rang while I was sleeping siesta.

Practice Past Simple and Continuous

Paragraph 3A: Rescue at the beach

A few minutes later, Tony and Pete (walk) ________ along the shore and (talk) ________ about the bag. While they (look) ________ at the sea, they (hear) ________ someone shouting. A woman (wave) ________ her arms near the water, and a child (cry) ________. Tony (run) ________ closer and (see) ________ a man in the sea. He (try) ________ to swim, but he (get) ________ tired.

Pete (call) ________ for help and Tony (take off) ________ his shoes. While Tony (go) ________ into the water, a lifeguard (arrive) ________ with a float. Together, they (pull) ________ the man to the beach. The man (sit) ________ on the sand and (thank) ________ them, and everyone (feel) ________ relieved.

Homework:

Paragraph 3B: A small emergency (a bit calmer)

After the rescue, Tony and Pete (sit) ________ on the sand and (drink) ________ some water. While they (rest) ________, they (notice) ________ a woman near the rocks. She (look) ________ upset and (search) ________ in her bag. Tony (walk) ________ to her and (ask) ________ if she was okay. She (say) ________ she (lose) ________ her keys. While Tony (look) ________ around, Pete (spot) ________ something shiny in the sand. He (pick up) ________ the keys and (give) ________ them to the woman. She (smile) ________ and (say) ________ thank you.

Paragraph 3C: The boat mystery continues (story-style)

Later, Tony and Pete (walk) ________ back along the beach. While they (walk) ________, they (see) ________ the small boat again. It (move) ________ slowly near the shore, and nobody (sit) ________ inside. Tony (point) ________ at it and Pete (say) ________ it was strange. While they (watch) ________, the boat (turn) ________ and (hit) ________ a rock. Suddenly, a man on the beach (shout) ________ and (run) ________ towards the water. He (tell) ________ them it was his boat. Tony and Pete (help) ________ him pull it closer, and the man (thank) ________ them again.

REVIEW:

Topic	+ Form	– Form	Use	Example (+ / –)
To be (Present Simple)	am/is/are	am not / isn’t / aren’t	identity, feelings, place	I’m happy. / I’m not happy.
Present Simple	V / V+s	don’t/doesn’t + V	routines, facts	He plays. / He doesn’t play.
Have got	have/has got	haven’t/hasn’t got	possession	She’s got a bike. / She hasn’t got a bike.
Can / can’t	can + V	can’t + V	ability, permission	I can drive. / I can’t drive.
Like / don’t like	like + noun/ing	don’t/doesn’t like + noun/ing	preferences	We like tea. / We don’t like tea.
Comparatives	adj-er / more + adj	not + comparative	compare 2 things	It’s bigger. / It isn’t bigger.
Superlatives	the adj-est / the most + adj	not + superlative	#1 in a group	It’s the cheapest. / It isn’t the cheapest.
Past of “be”	was/were	wasn’t / weren’t	state in the past	They were here. / They weren’t here.
Past Simple	V2 (played/went)	didn’t + V	finished past action	I went. / I didn’t go.
Past Continuous	was/were + V-ing	wasn’t/weren’t + V-ing	action in progress	She was cooking. / She wasn’t cooking.

WHEN & WHILE